Archive of Our Own

If Kuroo was looking for sympathy, he was in the wrong place. As he lay there on the gym floor, face red from a misaimed ball that had come flying his way, all Kuroo could think was, damn . It really ain’t my week, huh?

Yaku stood over him cradling the offending ball in his arms and Kuroo could see the temptation to smack it right down again flash across his eyes. Instead, he simply clicked his teeth and shook his head. 

“Don’t ever ask me that ever again.”

Nope, no sympathy at all. “What, why?! It was an honest question! You don’t have to get so sensitive, Yakkun. We’re both adults, you know.”

The question in question: Is it weird to cry during sex?

Kuroo, still flat on his back, cracked a grin. “Unless it’s a sensitive topic for you?”

Yaku’s eyes went dark. “No. And the fact that you brought it up means that you absolutely have no right to make that comment.”

The grin was gone. Instead, Kuroo closed his eyes. He took in a slow, steady breath, trying to calm the blood rushing to his cheeks-- oh . That was actual blood coming from his nose. The bitter metallic taste on his lips was nothing to the memory of Kenma’s face scrunching up in amusement. Of the laughter he could hardly hold back.

Yaku dropped a pack of tissues on his chest and crouched down beside him. “You’re clearly in distress. What happened? And I can’t stress this enough-- do not go into detail.”   

He had no problem with that request; Yaku was more than privy to the fact that his two former teammates had, to the shock of no one, started dating soon after Kenma’s graduation. It was something that came so easily, so naturally that it almost made Kuroo mad. What, could it have happened sooner? Were his years of pining meaningless, even though Kenma made it so damn hard to gauge his feelings on the subject? His best friend of over a decade should never have been so hard to read, especially for someone as observant as Kuroo Tetsuro. And typically, he wasn’t. He could read Kenma better than anyone, but the thought of being so straightforward on the subject of wanting to kiss and touch his best friend made his stomach twist.

It would have been nice to know that he wasn’t alone in those feelings sooner-- but unfortunately for Kuroo, he just had to fall for one of the least romantic and sentimental people in existence. It was maddening for someone like him, who had way too many thoughts about Kenma’s soft voice and subtle smile, about the shape of his face and the feel of his skin. He could easily wax poetic about Kenma's slouch, his clammy hands, and the bags under his eyes. He wanted to sometimes, so badly, too badly. But when those clammy hands were on his own, he found himself forgetting exactly what he wanted to say. None of it mattered. Grand romance didn’t mean anything when you were already dating your best friend. Kenma was well aware of how he felt. That was the best part of dating him, really. He didn’t have anything to prove.

Coincidentally, that could also be the worst part. 

“Promise you won’t laugh.” Kuroo’s voice was made nasally by the tissues stuffed up his nose. “If you laugh, your nose is next.”

“No promises. Depends on how pathetic this is. Also, don’t you have a marketing paper to write or something?” 

He did. It was due in three hours-- but times were desperate, the volleyball court was empty aside from the two of them, and Kuroo could hardly focus on academics with Kenma’s snickers echoing in his brain. Another deep breath, and he began to recount the existential nightmare that was last weekend. 

“Kuro…” 

His entire body was on fire. Far from the first time they had sex, and the sound of Kenma gasping his name in such a breathless, needy way still felt foreign. It was a sound he could get drunk on, do anything to draw out and keep going until it was all Kenma knew how to say. 

“Kuro--” Kenma’s legs were hooked tight around his waist, pushing Kuroo forward in a silent plea to thrust faster. That was how Kenma liked it; hard enough to make him stutter and leave him numb by the time they were done. But Kuroo couldn’t bring himself to let it end so quickly. He leaned down, brushing his lips against Kenma’s ear, his neck, his jaw, pausing at the rapid beat of his pulse. A curse passed Kenma’s lips, out of frustration or desire, Kuroo couldn’t tell, but it made him laugh either way.

“You need to learn to savor things.” He slowly rolled his hips, dragging out a moan that was definitely leaning more toward frustration. “What, do you hate being with me so much?”

The furious beating of his heart and flushed face said otherwise, though Kenma tried to glare. Kuroo’s own gaze grew soft. His boyfriend was flustered and wanting beneath him, and he couldn't get enough of the sight.

His fingers brushed down against Kenma’s cock, stroked him slowly, methodically along with each thrust of his hips. “‘S that good?” Despite his teasing grin, Kuroo was painfully sincere. Kenma’s breathing was growing ragged. “Hey. Kenma, I…”

“Mm, please…” His chest was heaving. Kuroo bent over, pressing their lips together begging Kenma to meet him back. The kiss was quick to deepen, and Kuroo rewarded him by picking up the pace of his hips and hand. 

Look at you , Kuroo thought, but didn’t dare break their kiss. His eyes cracked open, and he was enamored with the way Kenma squeezed his own eyes tight yet softened his brow. He experimented, nipping at Kenma’s bottom lip to see the way his face contorted in-- pleasure? Annoyance? Either way, it was adorable. His nose scrunched up when Kuroo broke their kiss, and he took it as him saying “how dare you stop.” Ever the pleaser, Kuroo went right on back kissing him dizzy. The heat in his core was beginning to coil. 

Eventually he had to break their kiss in a desperate attempt to catch his breath. They were both panting, clearly at the edge of a cliff that only needed the slightest push to go over. .

"K-Kuro,” Kenma gasped again, hooking his arms around Kuroo’s shoulders with all his strength. Kuroo picked up the pace of both his thrusts and the stroke of his hand, both stuttering as his head grew dizzy. “I--”

I love him. Damn, Kenma, I love you, Kuroo wanted to say, but found himself unable to get any words past the sudden lump in his throat. It was a good thing Kenma’s parents were gone for the evening. The walls of his home were only slightly thicker than the ones in Kuroo’s dorm, and neither of them were exactly quiet when overstimulated. 

Somehow, of all things, that sudden thought became his focus-- this was the first time they had sex, or even messed around in Kenma’s bedroom. Before, it had been in Kuroo’s room at home, or his dorm, and one time even in the back row of a movie theater when they were the only two there. But Kenma’s room, in the house he still shared with his parents until the house by his own university was ready to move into, had remained untouched. Kuroo would be lying if he acted like there wasn’t a sense of satisfaction at finally getting here, but mostly what he felt was a strange wholesome warmth.

Kenma was squeezing him close, gasping breaths with each stroke of Kuroo’s hand and thrust of his hips. Here they were, together with no barriers between them on the same bed they used to lounge on and play Smash together for hours. The same bed where Kenma comforted Kuroo in his own subtle ways when he was upset over losses, where they fell asleep together as children when Kuroo was having too much fun to leave his best friend and go home all the way across the street. 

Kuroo was hit with the crippling realization that he was deeply in love during his first year of high school in that room, on that very bed, and now here he was watching Kenma shutter and unravel beneath him with a gasping moan and his name on his lips. Kuroo’s heart was fit to burst.

“Fuck, Kenma--” The pressure was building in his core, in his heart, and in his throat. Kenma was beginning to come down from his high, and the hand Kuroo used to stroke him off now rested against his cheek; Kenma’s face winced at that, but Kuroo didn’t care. He needed to touch him, to know he was there, that this was real. “I--Ah--”

Mirroring Kuroo’s motions, Kenma reached up to brush his thumb against Kuroo’s cheek and down his jaw, the smallest grin pulling at his mouth. That was just enough, and Kuroo found himself coming not with a moan, but with a choked sob. He was hunched over Kenma, slamming into him one more time as his vision went blurry, eyes stinging.

It happened so fast, he didn’t realize he was crying until a tear fell on Kenma’s cheek. Kuroo found the strength to prop himself up on his elbows and wiped his eyes to little effect, instead  smiling softly through the tears, too overwhelmed with affection and afterglow to be cocky. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to Kenma’s forehead. “Goddamn. Look at what you do to me.”

Kenma was definitely looking. If Kuroo didn’t know any better, he would think Kenma was staring at Lev trying to fit a whole volleyball into his mouth on a dare. 

Kuroo’s blood froze.

“...Pfft-!”

Ah.

Oh. Oh no.

"Pfft…Hrn…” 

Kenma quickly turned his head, covering his mouth with both hands in a desperate attempt to muffle his… “Kuro.”

Kuroo blinked. His head was spinning. Did glass shatter as well? Or was that just his heart? 

“You’re laughing.” 

“No. No, of course not.” Though his voice was as soft as ever, Kenma had a terrible poker face. 

Kuroo remained frozen. Somehow, his  smile remained-- mostly due to the fact that moving his face felt painful. Hot tears had turned into frostbite, and he blinked twice before saying, “No, it’s okay. It’s cool. I’m cool. It’s cool.” He swallowed back the lump in his throat. “It’s cool. That was cool!” 

"Kuro.” Kenma tried to reach for him, but Kuroo finally found the will to pull out. It was easier to move about with the ice in his veins than look at Kenma, who was still failing miserably at keeping a straight face. "Where are you going? Come back." Kuroo caught him suppressing another laugh, and he couldn't turn away fast enough. "Come on. You're being silly."

"Silly? What are you talking about? Me?" Jump off the roof, or stand on train tracks? Either option seemed like a great idea. "Kenma! Ya hungry? I'll cook. Something protein heavy after that workout I just gave you, yeah?" Kuroo knew how lame he sounded, but his mouth was working faster than his brain. He couldn't tie off his condom fast enough. With trembling fingers he tossed it toward the trash and watched with a dissonant grin as it fell just short of the can. 

He didn't have to turn to see Kenma cringe. 

Mortification had taken a human form, and his name was Kuroo Tetsuro.  

Mortification Incarnate finished his tale of woe still laying on the gym floor. At some point Yaku had joined him, flat on his back and lazily tossing the ball in the air in what Kuroo assumed was some sort of show of empathy. He was also mercifully silent. You’re a good friend, Yakkun , he almost said, before making eye contact with the most severe grimace Kuroo had ever seen in his life. 

“I really didn’t need to hear that bit about the condom. You’re nasty.” Yaku aimed the ball toward Kuroo’s face, but he managed to dodge it as he finally rolled up into a sitting position. One of the tissues fell from his nose.

“Stop that! I’ve taken enough damage!” It was Kuroo’s turn to cradle the ball in his lap. “I’m so nice to you always, and here you are abusing your precious former captain.” 

Yaku sat up as well, letting out a deep sigh. “Well, precious former captain , why didn’t you go talk to someone with far less shame? Who’s actively in a relationship? You know. Bokuto.”

Kuroo groaned at the very mention, the very reminder of one of the worst conversations of his life. 

“Oh, you crymaxed! What’s the big deal? Ya gotta get over that, man! Hey hey, I ain’t afraid to show Akaashi how much I love him! He’s so damn beautiful, it’d be an insult if I didn’t get all emotional!”

“Uh-huh.”

“Sometimes I look at him, and his face is all red, his eyes all hazy, and I just…man, even thinking about it…”

“I see.”

“Oh! And one time, I teared up ‘cause he accidentally elbowed me in the nose.”

“Idiot, everyone cries when they’re slammed in the face like that.”

“Well, yeah, but it was during sex.”

He shuttered. Yaku placed a hand on his shoulder. “Okay. Sorry I asked. I know I’m your only beacon of normalcy.” Only because Kai’s at a different school. Not that Yaku needed to hear that after finally showing Kuroo some much needed sympathy. He sighed again, giving Kuroo’s shoulder a squeeze. “Kuroo, listen-- you’re a sappy weirdo with a creepy smile dating a guy who spends his days sinking into his gamer chair and streaming League of Legends . It’s Kenma. You of all people should have known what to expect. He’s not the most sensitive guy, unlike some people.”

“I know, I know, I get that. I’m not blind. Or sensitive! Shut up!” His fingers pushed up through his bangs.   

“Okay, crymaxer.” Yaku put his hands up, laughing as Kuroo nearly turned the volleyball on him. “I’m right, though! You know I am! You wanna sweep Kenma off his feet, but you know he gets uncomfortable with that sort of thing. He’s always been that way. What, did you think you guys would kiss, and suddenly he’d be all like ‘Ohhh, Kuroo, ravish me and whisper sweet nothings into my ear~.’” 

His cheeks flared crimson as he growled through gritted teeth, “Yaku, your Kenma impression sucks more than your lack of advice.”

“‘Ohhh Kuroo-’ Wait, no. ‘Tetsuro , my beloved, tell me more about how I’m lacking in docosahexaenoic acid and should eat more fish~’ Or something like that, you freak.”

“And I was so close to feeling like we were having a genuine conversation!” Kuroo could at least count himself comforted by the nostalgia of holding Yaku in a headlock, squabbling like they were first years in high school instead of second years in college. “You’re all a bunch of animals, you know that? A guy looks for a little sympathy and instead I’m mocked, mocked ! Well, Yakkun, don’t ever expect me to give you any help when you’re romantically in need!”

“Don’t be such an ass, I was getting there!” Yaku pushed away from him with a laugh. “You wanna know my thoughts, no jokes?” He started to stand, with Kuroo quickly following. “I think you’re misinterpreting him. It’s not like Kenma hasn’t seen you make a fool of yourself plenty of times over the past, what, ten years?”

Kuroo shrugged. “That’s different.”

“Why? Because you weren’t dating him before? Damn, you’re more insecure than I thought. Please don’t tell me you’ve been ignoring him since the incident.”

“Of course not! We chat all the time.” And I’m not insecure , he almost said, before remembering why they were even having that conversation. “Just not about…that. Anything but that.” Once again, Kuroo felt himself flush. “If I even try to say something sweet, my mind decides to replay last weekend in slow motion.”

“Then talk about it to his face, stupid.”

The idea made him wince. “I’m hoping he forgot.”

“Nah, not Kenma. You need to tell him how you feel. Dare I say, be vulnerable.”

“That’s what got me here in the first place!”

They made their way toward the gym exit, Yaku shaking his head. “And you’re gonna keep coming back to complain unless you do something about it, and I sure as hell don’t wanna hear anymore details about your sweaty love life. Go see him this weekend, or else. Make him cry. Metaphorically, at least. I don’t think you’ll be getting the real thing from Kenma any time soon, but you'll think of something. You're supposed to be clever, right?”

With a groan that echoed out of the gym, Kuroo concluded that maybe Yaku was right-- not that he would say that outloud. Instead, he pulled out his phone and opened to him and Kenma’s last Line conversation; something about Kenma’s streaming schedule for that week that Kuroo was now planning on screwing up.

His former teammate slapped him encouragingly on the back. “I’m so happy to say this conversation is over, yeah? Now get over yourself and never speak to me about your orgasms ever again.”

“No promises.” Kuroo’s crooked grin appeared despite himself, and he could concede that the bruise Yaku left on his arm was well deserved.

They agreed on Friday afternoon. Kuroo didn’t even bother to stop by his dorm after classes, instead making a beeline for the nearby train station with his bookbag still in hand. Admittedly, it was a little early-- Kenma wasn’t expecting him for another couple of hours, and the train ride was at most thirty minutes on a good day. But even the idea of sitting still for a few hours left him antsy. The sooner this was put to rest the better.

“I’m coming in!” 

The Kozume’s home--open freely for Kuroo to come and go since he was eight years old--was quiet that day. He slipped off his shoes in the genkan, all the while listening closely for any signs of life. The clacking of a keyboard could be heard drifting through from upstairs. Kuroo checked the time on his phone, and cursed to see that there were only two minutes until Kenma’s next stream.

“Kenma?” He inched open his bedroom door, and peaked in to see Kenma sitting cross legged at his computer desk, eyes wide and way too close to the screen. Kuroo noted the new hole in his sweats right over his knee. “You alive in here?”

Kenma’s eyes snapped to his face. “Kuro? Why are you--?” He checked the time and groaned. “Why are you so early?” He got up, fumbling as he took off his cat-ear headset. “Are you serious right now? You couldn’t wait?”

It was hard to suppress his grin when Kenma’s pout was so damn cute. Kuroo put up his hands in defense. What, and miss ya for two more hours? The words caught in his throat, a certain snicker still running through his head. Instead, he quipped; “And miss Kodzuken in action?”

“ Tch .” Kenma grabbed him by the wrist and tugged him into the room. “I’m not canceling my stream. Just,” He gently shoved Kuroo toward his bed on the other side of the room, and held a finger over his lips. “Don’t make any noise, okay? And don’t move. If you didn’t piss already, prepare to hold it in for two hours.”

Shoving me on your bed already? Once again, the words were stuck behind a wall of crippling shame. “I know, I know. I’ll be doing my homework and nothing more, I swear!”

“You better be, or else you’re leaving through the window.” Kenma shoved his hands in his pockets and sighed. He was practically swimming in the hoodie he wore-- it was, afterall, originally Kuroo’s. The sight left Kuroo a little breathless. 

When Kenma leaned over to steal a quick kiss, he was flooded with relief. He could make it the two hours without causing trouble for Kenma, or himself. So he fished his Entertainment Communications textbook from his bag and made himself comfy against Kenma’s pillows.

For the next two hours, Kuroo oscillated between barely focusing on his Communications notes, and focusing way too much on how absolutely absorbed Kenma was in playing Monster Hunter on stream. For someone so painfully shy, Kenma sure came alive when it came to talking back to his chat and explaining his technique to awestruck fans-- the fact that Kenma even had a legion of fans was still something he and their teammates could barely wrap their heads around. It didn’t take long for Kuroo’s homework to go completely ignored. He was far more interested in watching how Kenma sat cross legged in his gamer chair, a small smile pulling at his lips and set against the familiar competitive spark in his eyes. 

How did Kenma expect him to pull back and act normal all the time when he was just so damn cute? Small fingers poked out from the oversized sleeves of Kuroo’s old hoodie, moving fast between mouse and keyboard. He occasionally bounced up from his seat, too excited from an achievement to stay still. His hair, all black and bottle blonde that hadn’t been touched up in years, fell loosely from the messy bun behind his head, and goddamn it . Kuroo wanted to hold those hands all the time, kiss the smirk off his face, and bury his face in that too-long hair until Kenma was melting into his arms. Was that too much to ask?

It was , he reminded himself, because Kenma laughed when he cried and cringed when he fawned. Yeah, sure, Kuroo knew what he was getting into, but part of him held out hope that he could pull that miniscule sensitive side of Kenma out kicking and screaming. If anyone could do it, it was Kuroo.

His heart seized. What if that’s the problem? What if me being me is the problem?  

He shot up fast, though not in any way to break Kenma’s concentration. Kuroo considered himself a levelheaded, confident sort of guy. He didn’t struggle with the flood of drowning anxiety that Kenma or Akaashi did, and yet…and yet he found himself hooking onto the most dreadful of ideas and sinking into his own swirling thoughts. Long fingers pushed up into black hair, and he shook his head. Kenma wouldn’t do that , he thought. He wouldn’t date someone out of convenience, out of a sense of obligation. He wouldn’t do something he didn’t want to do…unless it was Kuroo asking, pulling, prying. No. Stop that. He rubbed his eyes against his palms and took a deep breath.. It was insulting to even think so low of him, Kuroo knew that, but Kenma’s snickers and the way he always pulled away in public were suddenly fogging his thoughts and muffling the rationality he was usually quite proud to possess.  

“...Yeah, that’s about it for the day.”

Kenma’s voice snapped him back to focus. 

“See ya. Don’t forget to subscribe.”

Ah. I’m an idiot . Kuroo took a deep breath. In one long exhale, the stupid irrational thoughts started to fade, and all he could see was the way Kenma, grinning, spun his chair around to face him. 

“What’s with the weird look on your face?” 

“Weird look?” Shit. Be normal again. He gave Kenma a toothy grin. “This is just my normal, handsome face.”

“Okay. Weirdo.” 

There was no venom in his tone. Kuroo’s grin widened as he reached toward the chair and grabbed the front pocket of Kenma’s hoodie. It took no effort at all to tug him off and toward the edge of the bed, where he fell straddling Kuroo’s lap-- now that was a position they could easily get lost in. As he leaned up, beckoning for Kenma to meet him in a kiss, he felt a small flicker of hope. This was normal . Kenma’s hands rested against Kuroo’s shoulders, and he didn’t hesitate to kiss him back with that muted, but obvious enthusiasm that was all too typical. Yeah , he thought, what does Yaku know? Kenma was smart, but he was human too. He could forget every now and then. 

Kuroo’s hands slipped beneath the hem of Kenma’s--well, technically his--hoodie and felt the soft expanse of skin underneath. They weren’t usually this eager so soon, but something about last week, the oppressive cloud hanging over Kuroo’s head, had left him feeling pent up. Maybe it was good to get things going before Kenma’s brain caught up to the situation. He could redeem himself in Kenma’s eyes before his boyfriend even knew what hit him. His tongue slipped idly into Kenma’s mouth, and hope turned to certainty--

Kenma pulled away, pressing his lips into a tight line. “So, uh. Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?”

Go to hell, Yaku, you know-it-all prick.

All hope of Kenma forgetting was instantly dashed and flung to the deepest depths of the void that was becoming Kuroo’s heart. He sat stone cold still for a moment, stuck with that dumb smile on his face as his eyes stared up blankly past Kenma’s head. An elephant? In the room with them right now?

He opened his mouth to speak-- but instead, Kuroo fell forward, bending down to rest (shove) his forehead against Kenma’s waiting chest. “Aha. Do we have to?”

“Yeah, I think we should.” 

Kuroo groaned into Kenma’s chest. He didn’t have to look up to see the resulting grimace. 

“Didn’t you used to hate confrontation of any kind?” Kuroo felt Kenma put a hand on his back. “I kind of miss that.”

“Mm, well…sorry for acting like a normal human?” 

Another low, rumbling groan. Kuroo mumbled something like “at least one of us is,” but it was lost in the way he rubbed his forehead back and forth against his old hoodie. How could either of them get through this without wanting to die? What was Kuroo supposed to say? I sobbed and cried like an idiot during sex because I love you so much, sorry about that. Sorry that I somehow managed to push you into a relationship you may or may not be comfortable with. I’m sorry that I’m devilishly clever and handsome and overbearing and overly affectionate and…

His thoughts dragged on, and so did the loaded silence. Kenma slowly rubbed circles on his back, and Kuroo could have sworn he heard him sighing. A car drove by outside. The wind rustled tree branches against the window. 

Kenma finally broke the silence. “...I’m sorry.”

Kuroo straightened back up. “What are you sorry for?”

“For laughing…” Kenma’s eyes shifted to the side. “When you…ya know…”

“You don’t have to say it.”

“When you crymaxed.”

“HA, That? That? Oh, Kenma, I wasn’t-- I’m not upset about that.” He forced his crooked smile, all the while trying to smooth out the black hair that was now even messier than usual. “Why would you apologize for something like that, huh?”

Kenma blinked, before hitting Kuroo with the most exhausted, incredulous look. “Kuro. You’re practically catatonic.”

“I’ve never been more normal in my life, my dearest Kenma.”

“Oh my god…You’re going insane.” A deep breath, and Kenma tried to steal himself before starting again. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t…I wasn’t making fun of you…”

“You did laugh.”

“Well, it was a little embarrassing, but…”

“Just a little. Just a bit.” Kuroo's brain was beginning to overheat. At some point, he slumped forward once again, this time hiding his face in Kenma’s neck. It had the added benefit of blocking out whatever face Kenma was making. “I mean, why wouldn’t it be? But I’m just an embarrassing kind of guy, huh?” Overbearing, way too affectionate, yadda yadda. 

“But, listen, what I’m trying to say is…is…” Kenma’s voice trailed off, and Kuroo heard him click his tongue. He could feel heat radiating from his cheeks, and Kuroo had to wonder just how much second hand embarrassment Kenma felt in order to be burning so bright. He grumbled,  “You’re not making this easy.” 

Kuroo’s heart was starting to pound out of his ears. It was one thing to remember his amused laughter and mocking face, another to feel Kenma’s second-hand embarrassment in person once more. He sucked in a deep, sharp breath before popping up once more, face to face with Kenma’s wide eyes. “So forget about it. We agree! It’s okay. So what! I’m sorry, okay?” Kenma’s mouth turned down into a deep frown, but Kuroo continued. “I’m sorry that was lame, and embarrassing, and that I can’t…I can’t stop touching you in front of people!”

“Huh?” Kenma blinked. “What are you--”

“I’m sorry I’m gross and love you too much, and maybe I pushed you way too much out of your comfort zone too fast…!” His rambling, irrational thoughts were winning, and vomiting out at terminal velocity. Nekoma’s cool, collected former captain was breaking down into a shell of a man, sounding like a lunatic to even his own ears. “I’m sorry I want to hold you, and kiss you, and tell you how much I want to spend every day of the rest of my life with you! It's selfish, I'm selfish with you, I always have been.”

“Uh, Kuro-”

“I’m sorry that I want to be your boyfriend, damn it, instead of just your best friend who fucks you sometimes!”

Kenma’s nostrils flared. “Are you-- what-- I never said--”

“...and I know, I know! It’s stupid! I’m being stupid, right?!”

“Yeah, you are.” It was amazing how Kenma was able to sound so irritated even without raising his voice. “You are. You definitely are. Kuro, listen--”

“And you know, yeah, I love you so much that it made me cry when I was making love to you.”

“‘Making love’?” Kenma grimaced. “Ugh, whatever, you’re putting words in my mouth. I thought…When you cried…I thought…”  

“But I get it! I know that’s just how you are, I'll get over it, but can you blame me for--”

“I thought it was,”

“So can we please maybe just forget this ever--”

“I thought it was-- KURO, ” He grabbed Kuroo’s face, forcing him to look into his eyes. “I THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE, OKAY?!”

Kuroo's heart was caught in his throat.

All at once, the storm clouds cleared, and the entire world went silent. 

The cars, the trees, whatever birds may have been chirping away outside all stopped to no doubt look inside and gawk at the two young men staring holes into each other with wide eyes. At some point Kenma, his face furiously burning, had dropped his hands to ball Kuroo’s shirt into his fists.

Cute…cute…cute. The word echoed on and on. 

Kuroo imagined this was what free falling from the stratosphere felt like-- ringing ears, weightlessness, a strangely euphoric twist in the gut. He blinked once, twice, unable to find coherent words.

“I thought you were cute!” Kenma shouted again for emphasis, flicking his eyes from Kuroo’s to the window and back. “Do you get it now?! I wasn’t…” He groaned, exasperatedly carding his fingers up through his hair and back. His already messy bun was beginning to fall apart. “I wasn’t laughing at you for… crying when you, uh, came. I was just-! It was… augh.” Now it was his turn to slump forward and bury his face into Kuroo’s collarbone. “It was just…surprising, is all. Who wouldn’t be surprised?! But…it wasn’t bad. Like I said, I thought it was…cute. I guess I just laughed on reflex is all.”

Like the sun shining on a wilting plant, Kuroo began to slowly rise and wrap his arms tight around Kenma's waist. He couldn't pull Kenma in close enough.

“You…you think I’m cute?” There it was-- that toothy Cheshire cat grin in its most genuine form. Kenma winced, and he could swear he heard him growl.

“Yes! Is that weird? Is it so weird for me to find my BOYFRIEND cute?!” Kenma was practically bristling. Kuroo wanted to tease him so bad, but he was too high on life itself to-- oh .

Another realization. One that made his already rising spirits soar to new heights. “Oh my god, Kenma, you laughed because you were flustered .”

“What, is that weird too? Am I not allowed to have a genuine human reaction without someone acting so damn shocked?! Does everyone think I’m a goddamn alien?! ” He popped up from his hiding spot, and Kuroo couldn’t get enough of his overwhelmingly adorable pout. The happiness on his face must have been evident, because both Kenma’s pout and blush deepened. Admittedly, seeing someone else as mortified as he had been the past week was downright refreshing. 

Oh, he was going to enjoy this. 

“Kyenmaaa~, you like me!”

“Not right now I don’t.” He moved to get up off of Kuroo’s lap, but was held down by the force of an overwhelming hug.

“You like me! You think I’m cute! Do you know how close I came to ingesting cyanide this week?” 

Kenma slipped a hand under Kuroo's chin, trying in vain to push him away. “I wish you did. I’ll give you some myself.”

“You don’t mean that. You think I’m too cute to die.”

“Nobody is too cute for death, especially not you.” 

Eventually, Kenma gave up the struggle and slumped forward, practically rag-dolling against Kuroo with his brows furrowed. Kuroo, for his part, took it in stride, happily falling backwards under the 130 lb force of Kenma’s deadweight. This feels right. He wrapped his arms tighter around Kenma’s waist, glad to nuzzle his nose against the top of his head, radiate in his warmth, and put the matter to rest; If only things were ever that easy. 

“You’re an ass, by the way.” Kenma grumbled against Kuroo’s neck, before lowering his voice in a mocking impression. “‘Waahh I wanna be your boyfriend instead of just your best friend who fucks you.’” Just when Kuroo was beginning to feel normal, too. His face was on fire. “What the hell does that even mean? Way to have faith in me.”

“Listen…” As Kuroo began to speak, Kenma sat up and placed his hands against Kuroo’s chest. “Not my proudest moment.”

“Not at all. You looked like a crazy person.” He fiddled with his fingers, eyes shifting anywhere but Kuroo’s face. Even as Kuroo’s hands brushed down his side, making him flush pink, Kenma avoided his gaze. “And…it’s not like that. By the way.” He stopped fidgeting with his fingers, instead starting to play with the split ends of his bangs. “I get I’m not the most, uh, romantic person in the world, and yeah I’m not huge on PDA, but…” Kenma’s voice faded out, and Kuroo easily recognized the anxiety bubbling up on his face. 

A pang of guilt coiled in his stomach. All that word vomit, worrying about his feelings being mocked, all the while he was so quick to dismiss and doubt the feelings of the person most important to him. Kuroo let out a sigh, feeling that spiral of shame creep up into his heart.

“Yeahhhhh…Damn it. I’m sorry. I guess I’ve had this silly little worry for a while now. Even before… the incident .” He squeezed Kenma’s waist. “We got together so easily that this stupid little voice in my head kept saying that I somehow managed to strong arm ya into this, and you just said yes because, well, I’m Kuroo, you’re Kenma, and you always go along with my stupid ideas.”

“Not always.” Kenma shrugged, and continued to fidget with his hair. “And, uh. I guess you’re not completely wrong though.”

His stomach twisted. “Is that so?”

“Yeah, I mean…” Kenma slouched down in a way that made the hoodie cover half his face. “I said yes because you’re Kuro.” Even half hidden, Kenma couldn’t cover his deep, scarlet blush. “I like-- I love you because you’re Kuro.” 

It was like pulling teeth. The embarrassment in his voice was evident, sounding as if someone was holding a gun to his head right out of eye sight and yet-- 

“You…oh my god, Kenma, you’re gonna make me cry again.”

“ Please don’t. This is embarrassing enough-- hey!” Kuroo sat up so fast that Kenma was nearly thrown to the floor. He held Kenma tight, close, nuzzling his face into the crook of his neck. “If you’re crying again, don’t expect me not to laugh!”

“I’m not crying!” Sure enough, when he peeked back out he was positively beaming. Before Kenma could speak again, he planted a dizzying kiss that left them both a little breathless. He pulled back for a moment, smiling like an idiot, before continuing to pepper kiss after kiss on every inch of Kenma’s face. 

“Okay-- Okay! Ah, Kuro, I’m gonna fall.” He clutched Kuroo's shirt tight. “Are you back to normal now? If you make me say anything else embarrassing I’m killing you on stream in front of everyone.”

“Oh sweet Kenma, don’t tempt me with a good time.” He waggled an eyebrow, and Kenma reacted by scrunching his face in disgust. “You’ve threatened my life twice in one afternoon. That’s a little sexy.”

“There’s something so deeply wrong with you, actually.” 

“Yeah?” With that crooked grin on his face he flipped them over. “Yet you love me.” And I’ll keep telling you how much I love you, cringing be damn. “Keep talkin’ dirty to me.”

“I haven’t washed my hair in almost two days.”

“HAH! That just means I get to help you wash it later.” Both of them crawled further onto the bed, intent on finishing what was barely started earlier. At least that’s what Kuroo assumed. There was an unmistakable glint in Kenma’s eyes that was driving him wild. Their conversation had gone from mortifying, to heartfelt, to teasing so fast that he was feeling a bit dizzy. All he knew was that after what was said, he needed to rip off any shred of a barrier between them both physically and mentally. “I was thinking something more along the lines of how hot I make you.”

“Your bedhead makes you look like a visual kei reject.” Kenma grabbed at the hem of Kuroo’s shirt, forcing it over his boyfriend’s head in one swift motion. 

“Ouch, right where it hurts. At least go after me for something I can control, like my great personality or calcium and vitamin D intake.” Kuroo hovered over his boyfriend, whose hands were quick to explore his visible abs. 

“So your hair and your crymaxing are off limits?”

Kuroo shook his head, but snickered all the same. “I won’t be doing that again tonight. I’m not Bokuto. Unless that’s what you want?”

Kenma’s grimace was fierce.  

“Didn’t think so.”

He leaned down to press soft kisses on Kenma’s neck, but was stopped by a push against his chest. What happened next was as impressive as it was unexpected-- With a sudden and uncharacteristic burst of strength, Kenma shoved him over and straddled him once again. Long hair fell completely free down his shoulders as soon as he threw off the hoodie and its undershirt, and Kuroo found himself pinned down with Kenma’s small hands on either side of his head. Kenma was staring daggers down at him, lips pursed as he searched Kuroo’s face. It was the same look he made when observing opponents across the net, or playing a new strategy game. 

Kuroo’s own eyes went wide, his smile only barely wavering as the downright touching realization hit him. “Kenma. Are you…?”

“I want to ride you, yes.”

“Aha. Yeah?” His heart was pounding. “Are you sure? Kenma, ya don’t…have to do that for me.”

Kenma’s eyes narrowed, and Kuroo could see the gears turning. They had tried that position only once or twice before, admittedly, and the end result was the same-- Kenma getting way too exhausted with the effort of rocking his hips down, down, down against Kuroo and collapsing before either of them had the chance to come. They, or at least Kuroo, laughed it off before quickly turning things over and finishing with Kenma relieved to be on his back. You’re as adorable as you are bratty, huh? That was the thought that ran through his head back then, and it was the same thought now…but damn it, Kuroo was a man like any other. 

If the option was on the table to be held down and ridden by his incredibly cute boyfriend, one who usually hated to overexert himself in any other circumstance, why not give it another shot?

“You get one more embarrassing sentence from me, okay?” Kuroo nodded. “I think…I think I want to spoil you? For once. Yeah. So let me do this.”

His face lit up, heart hammering so fast that for a moment he could swear it was about to burst from his chest. Kenma’s head was haloed by lights of his streaming setup, painting his dark hair in alternating hues of blue and purple. He looked ethereal.  I’m not gonna cry again. Definitely not gonna cry . 

“Heh, okay.” He crossed his arms behind his head and leaned back, grinning through the rush of blood going to both of his heads. “Go on and make a mess of me.”

If Kenma was making any face in response, Kuroo couldn’t see-- he had already leaned down, pressing kiss after kiss against Kuroo’s collarbone, his throat, pausing at the juncture between his neck and jaw in order to swipe his tongue up Kuroo’s ear. It was already enough to make Kuroo shiver under Kenma’s bare touch, especially as his boyfriend’s hands made quick work of his jeans. 

“Have you been thinking about doing this all week?” He asked through heavy breaths, leaning up on his elbows as Kenma briefly climbed off of him. The sudden lack of weight almost made him whine. “I’ll be honest, Kenma, if this is how you apologize, there might be some merit to the whole crymaxing thing. I mean, other than how cute you think I am.”

Kenma threw his newly discarded sweats at Kuroo’s head, only missing by virtue of being busy grabbing something from the bedside drawer. “You’re on thin ice.”

“And you’re already at half-mast.”

The condom didn’t miss, hitting a cackling Kuroo right in the forehead-- he did manage to catch the lube, though. Kenma finished pulling off his boyfriend’s jeans, leaving them both down to nothing but their boxer briefs before he climbed back on and slotted himself comfortably between Kuroo’s legs. The ache in Kuroo’s heart was quickly transferred down to his cock, especially when Kenma rolled their hips together while staring his boyfriend right in the eyes. “You’ll have to prep me yourself.”

Perhaps it was Kuroo’s relentless teasing pushing him, but Kenma was being shameless in his look and movements. If this was a part of being spoiled, Kuroo wasn’t going to last. 

“Well, you don’t have to twist my arm.” Kuroo met him all the way, deepening that ghost of a kiss as his hands found their way under the elastic of Kenma’s boxers. They cupped his ass, moving and controlling each roll of his hips with reckless abandon, and god he wanted to try to take it slow so damn bad. He wanted to savor every kiss, every sigh that Kenma made, every movement of tangled limbs. Kenma’s hands were eagerly groping up Kuroo’s sides, feeling up his goosebump ridden skin, brushing against his nipples. Clothed cock rubbed against clothed cock, and everything happening at once made it very difficult to set a steady pace.

But that’s how Kenma likes it , he thought with overwhelming fondness. Kuroo squeezed his ass, snickering as Kenma sighed desperately against his mouth. You also like being manhandled a bit, huh? 

“That feel good?” He murmured. “Do you want me to start now?” Kenma looked up at him with a deep flush, only nodding in response before ducking away and mouthing at Kuroo’s neck. “ Ah ,” he shivered, reaching blindly for the lube that fell on the bed earlier. It’d be easier if he moved Kenma off, gave each other some space for just a second, but like hell was he going to stop-- not when he could feel Kenma sucking on his skin, no doubt leaving red marks and bruises he would cherish for the next week. His hips rocked up embarrassingly fast at the feeling, making Kenma gasp against his skin. 

Eventually he was able to focus enough and find the lube, managing to coat his fingers in a generous amount before he went right to pushing Kenma’s boxers down. He asked again, “Ready?”

Kenma nodded, but soon found himself gasping at the cold feeling of Kuroo’s fingers circling his rim. Now this, he had to take it slow. His middle finger brushed, then gently pushed against his boyfriend’s hole, and he reveled in the way Kenma’s back arched against him. 

“ Mm-- ” Kenma’s fists clenched in anticipation, and Kuroo stroked his free hand down his back.

“Relax,” he whispered. Kenma sucked in a breath and exhaled. Kuroo pushed his finger further inside and watched him close, mesmerized as always with the way his expression melted into a white hot neediness. “That's good?”

Kenma let out a huff, and he took that as a sign to begin working him open in earnest. His free hand rested on Kenma’s back as his fingers moved methodically in and out, curling and flexing in a way that had his boyfriend squirming on top of him. Kuroo quickly grew hard-- as he curled in a second finger, Kenma sighed and nuzzled against Kuroo’s temple, giving Kuroo the opportunity to turn his head and meet him in a lazy kiss. He smiled, drinking in every sigh and shiver Kenma gave him as he began to scissor him in and out. 

Everything was perfect except, much to Kuroo’s despair, the angle. It sure looked hot as hell, having Kenma arching his back on top of him as he reached over to finger him open, but his arm muscles were beginning to protest. With a whispered apology, he pulled out and sat them both upright. 

“Why?” Kenma looked downright betrayed, and Kuroo cackled. He didn’t reply, instead pushing Kenma gently against his pillows before pumping more lube. 

“Just for a second, okay? I know how hard it is to not be on top of me at all times. Many people have--”

Kenma kicked Kuroo’s side, earning another cackle in response. Moments later, he was two fingers deep again and Kenma was too busy squirming to complain. That’s better, Kuroo thought with a wicked grin. Being ridden was going to be a dream, but having Kenma beneath him, moving his hips against his hand to urge him deeper…Kuroo began to palm himself, finding a wet spot already blooming through his boxers. 

He managed to keep both fingers in and curling as he kicked off the last of his clothes. “Can I…?” and Kenma nodded vigorously, reading his mind. With that, Kuroo wrapped his hand around Kenma and began to slowly pump up and down the length of his cock. Kenma’s toes curled, and he pressed in a third finger.

“Kuro…” Kenma whispered, and Kuroo’s cock twitched. There it was-- that voice, the way he said his name, how Kenma tried to cover his mouth with the back of his hand. Kuroo could feel the flush spread through his body, but it was nothing compared to the way Kenma’s chest heaved and sighed with each stroke of the wrist. If that wasn’t enough to make him burn, then the gasp Kenma let out when his fingers brushed his prostate sure did the trick. “ Kuro ,” He gasped again, and Kuroo found himself reminded of what feelings pushed him to cry in the first place. The affection he felt was overflowing, all consuming, impossible to contain. He needed him, shamelessly craved every part of Kenma that nobody else would ever get the chance to see.   

He leaned down, mouthing at Kenma’s neck as he wrapped his hand around them both. Shit , he thought, his neglected dick finally getting some attention. It would be so easy to get lost in frotting alone, but Kuroo was soon reminded of who was supposed to be in charge. 

Small hands pressed forcefully against his chest. “S-Stop. Stop, that’s…I’m ready.”

In other words, I won’t last much longer like this . Kuroo rolled onto his back without a second thought or quip, too entranced by Kenma’s half-lidded gaze and scarlet cheeks. He reached up, pushing Kenma’s bangs out of his eyes and behind his ears, not giving him an inch to hide away. The action made his blush deepen. Kuroo’s heart couldn’t take it.

Once again, he laid back and watched Kenma straddle his waist. They stayed still for a moment, both trying to catch their breath at a sight neither would ever get truly used to. Kuroo wordlessly handed over the condom and watched intently as Kenma tore it open. 

“You’re doing this part too, huh?”

Kenma shifted back and sat on Kuroo’s thighs. “I like doing this.”

“Oh.” Kuroo’s cheeks grew warm. “You’ve never said that before.”

“I didn’t think I’d have to?” Kenma said with a laugh. He wrapped his hand around Kuroo’s cock and methodically pumped. There was a moment where he opened his mouth to speak again, but looked away just as fast. Before Kuroo could press, he was cut off by the abrupt feeling of a tongue swiping up the length of his dick.

“ Ah , Ken--” His hands scrambled for the sheets at the completely unexpected feeling. “T-That’s--”

“Yeah?” Kenma’s eyes widened, his smile proud. One swipe of the tongue, and he was completely back in control. Kuroo could see the subtle excitement blooming all over his face, the same kind of excitement he got from a brand new JRPG. 

Spoil me however the hell you want, I’m begging. 

Kenma rolled the condom on, all the while his eyes were flicking from Kuroo’s face to his cock. The lube felt familiar but cold, eliciting a gasp from Kuroo that made his own sensitivity and excitement plain. All that was left was for Kenma to take his place on top. Pins and needles didn’t do his anticipation justice. 

“You sure you’ll be okay this time?” Kuroo asked through a smile and heavy breaths. Kenma was undeterred. 

“I'm not afraid to die. There are worse ways to go out.”

“HA! I love you so much I can’t stand it.”

“I know. I love you too.” Kenma looked at him with such genuine, soft affection that for a moment Kuroo could swear his eyes were welling up again-- but not yet, not today, damn it. He wasn’t completely hysterical. Instead, he focused on watching Kenma line himself up over his cock and hold it against his ass. It took a very determined deep breath for him to begin sinking down.

Kenma let out a sharp gasp, matched only by the hitching of Kuroo’s breath as that familiar, welcoming tight heat began to envelope his cock. Steady , he told himself. Kenma had to go at his own pace for this to work. His hands ran up and down the pale skin of Kenma’s sides, feeling the soft tremble of his body as he began to sink lower and adjust to Kuroo’s length. 

“Relax,” he whispered. Kenma bottomed out with his palms flat on Kuroo’s chest, and it was all he could do to not rock up into him right there. The tension in Kenma’s brow dissipated with a heaving exhale, leaving in its place a hint of the pleasure Kuroo was determined to give him. “Are you okay?”

“Still alive, yeah,” Kenma snickered. Hazy eyes watched Kuroo intently. “Give me, mm , give me a…” Kuroo took one of Kenma’s hands in his own and held it against his lips, reveling in the sigh it elicited from his boyfriends mouth. Another moment, and Kenma slowly began to circle his hips.

Kuroo inhaled sharply. As soon as he opened his mouth he moaned Kenma’s name, barely able to hold on to that tenuous patience as his hips gently rocked up as well. “Look at you,” he sighed, before even realizing the words were coming out. “You’re so damn beautiful, you know that?” Kenma’s face scrunched in agony at the words, yet his cheeks burned brighter than ever. Kuroo’s confidence soared. “That’s right. I’m not holding back now, you’ve officially awakened my inner-- Ahhhh, fuck!”

His poor nipples were nearly twisted off-- he should have seen the danger coming the second Kenma rested his hands on his chest. Well, it wasn’t like he wasn’t a little into it. He laughed through it all, and soon enough Kenma let up and leaned down to kiss the stupid smile off Kuroo’s face. When he sat up again, he ground his hips down harder, faster, increasingly filling the air with the sound of desperate moans and panting. Kuroo could already see sweat pooling over Kenma’s brow. He cupped his ass tight, helping Kenma along as his own hips matched his rhythm. 

“Kuro, please…” Kuroo bucked up at the familiar, intoxicating sound of his name slurred on Kenma’s lips. That gasping, high pitched groan that followed told him exactly where his cock had hit, and his prideful cheshire grin grew wide. Every part of him was beginning to burn. 

With a firm grasp on Kenma’s ass, he pushed with his feet up the bed in order to lean against the headboard. Now, at this level, he didn’t have to crane his neck so much to look at the mess he was making. Through panting breaths, he asked, “This good? You feel good?”

Kenma nodded, unable to get any tangible words out, creating a sight so cute that Kuroo’s brain felt like it was full of radio static. He pushed forward, open-mouthed, kissing and sucking at Kenma’s neck, drinking up every moan and sigh vibrating from Kenma’s throat. Sweat soaked skin rubbed and slapped against each other, and Kuroo couldn’t hold him close enough. I love you, I love you, I love you. The words played over in his head like it was all he knew how to say. He reached down to finally give Kenma’s length some attention, and the relief in his voice was palpable. 

“ Yes ,” Kenma sighed, and Kuroo groaned when feeling him clench around his cock. His bed head was made worse by the way Kenma’s fingers pushed up and pulled at his hair hard enough to make him stare back into hazy yellow eyes. He had to snicker-- Kenma looked like he was about ready to pass out after a long jog, but he just kept going, true in his determination to literally ride this out to the end. His ragged breath was muffled by the kiss he pulled a very willing Kuroo into. A kiss that was heavy and frantic, nearly robbing the air from Kuroo’s lungs. 

He lost track of how long they stayed tangled together, moving at an increasingly needy pace with Kenma gripping his hair for dear life. There, fucking--Kuroo would argue love making , but that could wait-- in the same room they played together, the same room Kuroo fell in love, and the same room he cried like an idiot while he came and spiraled into the most debilitating existential crises of his life. But what did that matter when Kenma was in his arms riding him to exhaustion. 

He wasn’t going to cry this time, damn it-- but it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if he did.

“ Kuro ,” Kenma gasped, especially as Kuroo’s hand picked up the pace on his cock. He was beginning to slump over, burying his face in Kuroo’s neck, body barely having enough strength to push through the impending orgasm. “I can’t-- please tell me you’re close.”

Kuroo was essentially moving Kenma’s body on top of him at that point, and he smiled against his hair. “ Mm , if you need to-- hah --if you need to come, go for it.”

Kenma shook his head. “N-Not until you do.” His hand slid reverently down Kuroo’s chest, and Kuroo caught a peak of a small, calculating cat-like grin. “ Hah… ” He swallowed something back, trying desperately to catch what little breath he could. “I want to see what I do to you again…” Kenma brushed his lips right against Kuroo’s ear, whispering, “Kuro…You make me so hot it hurts.”

“ Fuck .”

There were stars in his eyes. Thunder crackled under Kuroo’s skin. If this was a ploy to get him to come faster, well, it was working embarrassingly well. His body was painfully hot, the pleasure in his core coiling tighter and tighter. He let go of Kenma’s cock in order to hold his ass firmly with both hands and--with little thought in his head other then fuck, fuck, goddamn, fuck --he drove up into him hard, over and over, skin slapping skin. 

Kenma watched him with an all-consuming focus, despite the sharp moans he couldn’t keep back every time Kuroo fucked into him. Kuroo’s fingers dug into his skin hard enough to bruise, but neither seemed concerned. All that mattered was the pure, feverish sensation of it all. Of the feeling of Kenma bare against him whispering to him that, yes , he loved him, and yes , he was a sappy asshole who cried, but yes it was adorable, and hot, and he was going to tease him for it for the rest of their lives, and yes that meant the rest of their lives together-- 

He didn’t come with a sob this time, but with a moan from deep in his chest, slamming one more time into Kenma as he pulled him as close as humanly possible.

“Kenma…” He slurred, body pulsing with the aftershocks of his climax. It felt like he was floating above his own body. “Kenma, Kenma, Kenma…” Each utterance punctuated by peppered kisses.

Kenma’s lazy smile disappeared at the sound of a needy groan. “Ugh, hey, can you…?”

No need for clarification-- Kuroo pressed a firm kiss to his lips before reaching again for Kenma’s throbbing length.

“ Hah, ah… ” 

“Better?” He murmured, a cheeky grin spread wide at the sound of Kenma’s whine. Kuroo was generous in his movements, thrusting his hand fast in time with the desperate motion of Kenma’s hips against his palm. His boyfriend sighed in response, overcome with relief as that much needed friction brought him to climax.

Once again, Kenma came undone with a gasping sigh and Kuroo’s name on his lips. 

The ragdoll formerly known as Kenma collapsed against Kuroo’s chest completely out of breath. They fell flat against the pillows together, Kuroo raggedly laughing in a mix of relief and pure euphoria. 

“I love you,” he whispered, snickering, unable to stop himself from saying it again and again. He gently ran his fingers through Kenma’s sweat-soaked hair. 

“I can’t feel my thighs,” Kenma bluntly responded. He gazed up at Kuroo through the gaps in his bangs, exhaustion just as evident in his eyes as it was in his heavy breaths and trembling legs. “So yeah, I love you too.”

Cute , Kuroo thought, before pressing a kiss to his forehead. Too damn cute . With an impressive amount of effort, Kenma lifted himself just enough to beckon Kuroo for a proper kiss-- one he was all too happy to give. He was smiling into the kiss, Kuroo realized, and as he cupped Kenma’s face he had to wonder just how much his heart could take in one evening alone. 

“Do you feel better…?” Kenma’s voice was low, his body flushed, sincerity all too evident. It took everything for Kuroo to resist the temptation to squish his red cheeks right there. 

Ah, hell. He did it anyway. “So much better. I feel so good I could cry.” 

“Don’t.” Kenma groaned, slumping down and nuzzling into Kuroo’s neck. He could stay like that for hours, Kenma dozing with a lazy smile on his lips, cuddled as close as humanly possible together in a room that had more memories in it than Kuroo could count-- cringe worthy or otherwise, he was happy to live with them all. 

TO: Yakkun

I didn’t cry this time. ;)